The Rooster

That's nice. Bass Pro Shops maybe?? Where were you at?? Nevermind, I just saw his hat. Duh.

This is probably the best idea yet. Now how can I do that?? Any idea where to start??

This is a good idea. I could put a bunch of them in a flat rate postage box and ship it for $8.95 easily. A year's worth or more should fit in one of those boxes easy.

I think the library donation is going to win out here. I was thinking something like that but wanted to see if other people also thought that first.

I have a lot of magazines that I've built up in the last few years, from 2004 until now. I won't read them anymore but I hate to just throw them away. What do you do with yours, keep and reread them or can you donate them somewhere so other people can read up on bass fishing?? Maybe some kids would get some use from them reading and learning?? Maybe?? Just seems a shame to toss them out but they're just taking up space here at home and not being read anymore.

My dad has upgraded his tacklebox several times over the years, mostly due to us getting him a new one and new lures, but he still has some old old lures in it. Some that are made of wood, very small jointed crankbaits and they have metal diving lips. They don't look very real at all, but he says they used to slay the fish back in the day. He carry's them with him, but he rarely ever uses one, I think he may have used one just once in the last 10 years. He's afraid of losing one. Really though, it doesn't matter what you get for him, he will mostly end up fishing a Panther Martin in a green color. Or a crappie jig spinner. Maybe a Roostertail but only if I start slaying the fish on mine. He says lures catch fishermen mostly.....the fish eat bugs and worms. Sometimes I wonder if he still believes that when the score is 8 - 0, my lead. We both fish lures exclusively when we go but somehow I always end up way out in front. :'( I wish he could have just one amazing day out on the water, he doesn't get to go fishing that much due to timing, but I get to go a lot more. Even if it was just one big fish he caught, that would make my whole year.

Here's the final weights for the first day, link to it that is.... Link to first day weigh in totals

Here's the link to the showtimes that ESPN2 is going to cover the 2008 Bass Master Classic on, incase anyone doesn't know where to find it. ESPN2 showtimes for 2008 Classic

I picked Bass Pro Shops because I've had great experiences with them. Prices are good, shipping is quick, and even when I had a problem with an order getting lost in the mail that WASN'T their fault (federal government mail system's fault actually), they did everything they could to cancel the previous order and ship out another one immediately even before the first one was returned back to them. Top notch customer service if you ask me. Plus their products are really nice and they carry a large selection of merchandise. Only thing I don't like is their brand of spinning rods, the reel locking system is not to my taste. The others listed to vote on, I have no problems with, just BPS has been the one I have the most experience with.

I will be sure to do that. Thanks for all your replies so far.

I'm looking for a place to buy Worden's Roostertails in multiple sizes and colors for CHEAPER than the manufacturer's website sells them for. They're just TOO high. Found a couple of places, and some colors I want, but still not the main color I want which is black/chartreuse combination in 1/6 or 1/4 oz. size.

Is there a list anywhere on this site of online tackle sales websites?? If not, do any of you purchase tackle online and if so......what site??

I notice some people don't like Hank Parker's show. I love it myself. His show to me shows that he's one of "us", just a regular guy who likes fishing and happens to be good enough at it to make a living. The only one I really don't like is "Beat Charlie Moore". That guy acts way too cocky and full of himself. I can't enjoy watching it for that reason alone. Otherwise I'll watch any fishing show on TV.

Lots of different lures can be casted on either a casting rod/reel or a spinning rod/reel. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, texas/carolina rigs, buzzbaits, things like that. What do you use?? And if you think of any other types I forgot, mention them too please. I've never used a chatterbait (jig with a blade??) before so what's best for it?? I use casting gear for spinnerbaits and crankbaits exclusively, never a spinning rod. However I may use a spinning rod for a buzzbait if I'm not fishing it very fast, even though I think it's similar to a spinnerbait the way I fish it, which I only use the casting rod for. Don't really know why though. Just seems easier to use sometimes. I make my decision which one to use almost completely based on comfort, without giving presentation of the lure much thought. Might be a mistake, but it's worked so far. I have a friend who will only use spinning rods for everything he throws. He used to use casting reels but got tired of them and won't use them at all now.

Just to check, what channel and times is it on. ESPN or ESPN2?? Isn't it usually on at about 8:00 a.m. EST??

My bait monkey has been unleashed before, but he thinks smaller than most others. And also I don't suspect that it's gear noone else would want. I just wondered if I had made good choices. Seems by all the replies that I have apparently done so. Thanks guys.

You're making me want to stick with what I know. I've used both of those lines and like them about equally. Trilene in the red box, Stren in the purple. Maybe I'll stick with those.

I love those reels, but when I was shopping I ended up choosing a Bass Pro Shops Extreme and I have never been happier with a baitcaster. I haven't owned all that many, 5 or 6 maybe. I'm comparing this reel to the Abu Garcia Ambassadeurs I've had, and a Quantum, Marado, and Shakespeare too. This BPS Extreme beats them all.

I've tried every way of laying the spool down over the years, label up, label down, spooling like a baitcaster....... Some of the techniques here where you spool up, then unspool and rewind with a swivel or reel magic seem like they have potential, maybe I'll try that. But so far the best one I've seen for my reels (and I've been through a lot of spinning reels that were all different) seems to be label facing downward or having the spool rolling off line as if on a baitcaster. But label up has ALWAYS put a bunch of line twist in my line.

My favorites for whatever reason are Aaron Martens, Kevin Van Dam, Mike Iaconelli.............and even though he's new and probably won't do it twice in a row.........I like his attitude, seems like a great guy.........Boyd Duckett. But really I don't care who wins, this for me is a wakeup call to stand up and shake off the dust of winter and kick into spring time gear!!!! This is my superbowl!!!!

I'm happy with it. I just wondered if a larger fish would likely bend the graphite bodied reels out of proportion and allow gears to be unaligned and do damage. The rods I really don't think are bad, just wondered about some of the reels. They make such a big deal about aluminum frames on casters in the catalogs that I wondered if a graphite frame was really all that bad after all. All of my spinning reels are graphite bodied. I figured a large fish could do damage to one maybe. I once used an Abu Garcia 303R spinning reel to land a fish under keeping size and it caused the gears to grind afterwards. Admittedly I horsed the fish in with the crank instead of playing it with the rod, but UNDER keeping size, and brand new reel to boot (used for 3 trips at the time)?? It grinded so bad that I sold it in a yard sale that summer for $5 after paying $40 for it a couple months before.

I have the Extreme and I'd rate it #1 of all of them simply because it's LOADED with features, available in all those sizes, speeds, and with flippin' switch or without. Even left handed versions. I have one of the 2006 models with only 5 bearings, but the newer ones have 7 now. I love mine. Then the Pflueger Echelon is a good lower priced, smooth reel and I like it also. Not sure about it's strength, being a graphite frame though. I have another thread started where I'm asking how my stuff compares with some of it being graphite and some aluminum, I've never caught a largemouth bass over 3 pounds though. Striped bass weighing 5 was my best. Figured a graphite reel would not hold up. If you're interested in a reel of this price, and similar features, look at the Bass Pro Shops Bionic Plus. Made very similar and is just a small bit less in price. I did not like the Code at all. Felt cheap to me when I looked at it at a Wal-Mart recently. If I were going to get one I'd look at the Kevin Van Dam signature series instead, made just like the Code but has more bearings and for the small increase in price that would be worth it to me. Bass Pro Shops sells it. But I don't like the Code so it probably won't feel much better. The other two I have no experience with, not even looking at a display. Sorry.

I have a few rods and reels I use a lot, picked out mostly because of smoothness of the reel's operation and comfort of the rod, within a certain price range of course. Just was wondering how I can expect some of this to perform if and when I ever do hook a fish in the 5 pounds and up class. I'd settle for 3 pounds actually. I'm usually catching 1 - 2 pounders though. Hoping to improve that this year. First of all, I use Stren 8 lb. test mono on my spinning gear, sometimes 10 lb. The clear/blue fluorescent mostly. Was thinking of switching to a fluorocarbon though. I use 12 lb. in the same line for baitcasters. And for equipment, I have..... Quest (Dick's Sporting Goods brand) 6'0" 1 pc. graphite medium spinning rod with a Shimano Sedona SE2500FB spinning reel on it. 8 lb. test mono. Shakespeare Ugly Stik Lite Pro 6'0" 2 pc. fiberglass/graphite medium spinning rod with a Mitchell Avocet S2000R spinning reel. 10 lb. test mono. Quantum Dance Class 6'6" 1 pc. graphite medium spinning rod with another Mitchell Avocet S2000R spinning reel. 10 lb. test mono. Quantum Torsion 6'0" 1 pc. graphite medium casting rod with a Bass Pro Shops Extreme baitcaster on it (2006 model, 5 bearings, aluminum frame), 6.4:1 ratio. 12 lb. test mono. Quest 6'0" 2 pc. graphite medium casting rod with an old Quantum EX250 (1996 model, 2 bearings, graphite frame) baitcaster on it, 5.1:1 ratio. 12 lb. test mono. These are the five rods I use the most of all of them. They feel comfortable, and I've tried to select quality stuff within the price range I shop in. Some of the reels having graphite frames has got me wondering how they will hold up in a fight with a very nice fish.

Rapala #1, Bandit #2

I've read before that some people don't like Ike cause he breakdances on the bow of the boat after catching a big fish. I imagine that IF I could breakdance without breaking ME and that if it were me powerfishing for a $500,000 payday and I just landed a 7 pounder...............I'd dance too. Probably naked. Boy what a YouTube video that would make. ;D